The specimens cited above, which give an excellent picture of the degree of
variation in typical V. floribundum in Ecuador, are accompanied by notes too extensive
to be given here. In brief, the plant was found at elevations of 7,500 to
12,000 ft.; it was noted as a shrub up to 2 m. (or rarely as much as 3-5 m.)high,
often low, spreading, or prostrate on paramos, in small or extensive colonies, with
underground burls up to 10 cm. in diameter; leaves deep green above, paler beneath,
dull on both sides or subnitid above; hypanthium green to purplish, or suffused
with pink, sometimes subglaucous, the calyx-lobes sometimes red; corolla usually
bright pink to red, sometimes white tinged with pink; fruit blue to black, glaucous
or not.

The varieties of V. floribundum accepted by Sleumer (Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin
13: 129-132. 1936) seem of very questionable value, being based on size and
shape of leaves. However, I have attempted to arrange the present collections in
these varieties. Those cited above fall into the typical variety as interpreted by
Sleumer. It may be noted that nos. 389, 2264, 5243, and s. n. represent the form
which Blake has described as V. dasygynum (which Sleumer reduces outright to
typical V. floribundum), of which the calyx is pubescent.